The IPC Conference on Securing Intellectual Property Through Physical Security, IT and Regulatory Compliance will be held November 3-4, 2011, in Washington, D.C. The conference will examine an issue that’s getting increased attention from OEMs and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD): the protection of intellectual property (IP) that is designed into printed circuit boards.

“Safeguarding IP goes well beyond nondisclosure agreements and contracts,” advises Fern Abrams, IPC director of government relations and environmental policy, “especially in the electronics industry where a significant amount of information about a product is embedded in its printed board. Protecting access to that IP is equally critical to protecting national security or an OEM’s competitive edge.”

The day-and-a-half conference will focus on aspects of physically protecting intellectual property, such as facility security, information technology safeguards, standardization and regulatory compliance, to help participants develop robust IP protection programs for their companies.

Sharing more insight into industry best practices, experts from Cisco Systems, Endicott Interconnect Technologies and IEC Electronics Corp., will provide a panel discussion on their unique experiences in vendor management.

Other conference topics include the intricacy and essentials of maintaining IP protection during a crisis by Jim Fuller, vice president PCB Engineering at Endicott Interconnect Technologies, and developing an IP protection employee training program by Jos Purvis, risk management specialist at Cisco Systems, Inc.

A number of legal issues will also be covered at the conference. Jason Mirabito, a partner at Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C., will discuss what a nondisclosure agreement can and cannot protect. In addition, Kerry Scarlott, a director at Goulston & Storrs, will provide an overview of International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) compliance.

Abrams will close the conference with an introduction and overview of IPC’s new IP protection certification program. This program is being developed specifically for the electronics manufacturing industry to help companies safeguard critical data.

For more information on the IP conference or to register, visit www.ipc.org/IP-conference or contact Susan Filz, IPC director of industry programs, at SusanFilz@ipc.org or + 1 847-597-2884.

IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global trade association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 3,000 member companies which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $1.85 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Taos, N.M.; Arlington, Va.; Stockholm, Sweden; Moscow, Russia; Bangalore, India; Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing, China.